Assorting machine



April 13, 1937. F. M. CARROLL 2,076,705

ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6', 1934 9 SheetsSheet 1 FIG]. u

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ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1954 9 sheets-sheet 2 FIGA,

1 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY April 13, 1937.

F. M. CARROLL ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I III/1777a INVENTOR BY I ATTORNW FIGS.

A ril 13, 193%.

F.M.CARROI L ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNV NTOR v ATTORNEY A ril 13, 1937.

F. M. CARROLL ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG].

' ATTORNEY April F. M. CARROLL 2,076,705

AS SORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1934 9 Shets-Shet 6 INVENTOR TATi'ORNEY A ril 13, 1937.

F. M. CARROLL .1 ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY I ll 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Al IORNE! 5.: v i=2.- I. E

F. M. CARROLL ASSORTING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1934 3 A. it/ @525: is;

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Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES ASSORTING MACHINE Fred M. Carroll, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 6, 1934, Serial No. 719,308

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for making up pads or books such as sales books in which several slips or pages are required for each transaction and in which certain differences occur in the several sheets. For instance, the sheets may be scored at different places to permit separation into several parts and also, at least one of the sheets may constitute a perforated record card in whichcertain entries are punched before the book is made up.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine which will print the several sheets simultaneously, score the sheets in the various-appropriate places and perforate one of the sheets.

Another object is to provide mechanism for perforating one of the sheets and to print the data represented by such perforations on one.

or more of the other sheets. 9 Another object is to provide means for progressively changing the perforations to represent serial numbering.

Another object is to provide serial numbering printing mechanism coordinated with serial numher punching mechanism so as to print on certaln of the slips the data represented by the perforations on the punched slip.

Another object is to provide mechanism for cutting the stock in proper lengthsand for stacking the slips in correct order.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig.1 shows one of the pages or slips of the sales book with printed data and scored at various places to permit the separation of the slip' into several parts.

Fig. 2 shows a duplicate slip adapted to occupy a position in the book directly below the slip of Fig. 1 and is scored so that itmay be re- Fig. 5 is a plan view 'of the machine shown in Fig. 4.

'Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 with the supporting framework of the machine omitted.

Fig. '7 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 5. 1

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9 -9 of Fig. 5

Fig. 12 is a detail of part of Fig. 11 and including additional parts.

Fig. 13 is 'a detail of a clutch for operating the 1 feed device for disposing of the several sheets after they have been cut off.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail of mechanism for advancing the serial numbering device once for each operation.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the device shown 1 Fig. 14. I a

Fig. 16 is a detail of the inking device for the printing type.

Fig. 1'7 is a view showing the several strips of material after the completion of the-several steps in printing and perforating.

Fig. 18 shows the three slips of a set after they have been completed and assembled.

Referring to Fig. 1, the slip I is shown as comprising four parts, la, lb, I0 and Id, the portion la being simply the end of the slip at which the slip is fastened in the book. The scoring at 5, 6 and 1 permits the separation of the slip into three separate parts for disposal in several ways. For instance, one of the slips may be placed in a package containing the article sold and another may be placed outside of the package indicating the name and address of the person to whom the package-is to be sent. The various slips of Fig. 1 containprinted matter including numbers representing the department in which the transaction is made, the number of the clerk making the transaction, the number of the sales book, and the number of the check in theisalesbook. The slip of Fig. 2 is divided into two portions, 2 and2a, the portion in being the end at which the slip is fastened in the book. This s ip is scored along the line 0 so that it may be removed from the book.- The numbers representing the department, clerk,- book and check are printed. but once on this slip instead at three different places as in the case of.. Fig. 1. In other respects the printed matter on this duplicate slip is substantially similar to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a record card 3 adapted to control a. perforated record tabulating machine and is adapted to be separated from the end3a along the scored line 9. The scoring of this slip or card is different from that of the slips I and 2 in that the points In where the paper will be torn in removing the card from the book are removed from the edge of the card so as not to interfere with the feeding of the card and the registration thereof intabulating and sorting machines. The card shows printed matter including lines, substantially similar to slips I and 2, but instead of the printing of the numbers representing the department, clerk, book and check, these numbers are represented by perforations II.

Each sales book will contain a fixed number of sales slips and all slips of a given book will contain the same book number and each book will bear a different number. It is, therefore, necessary to change the numbering mechanism, including the mechanism for printing the numbers on the slips I and 2 and for punching the numbers on the slip 3 for each book. In other words, if there are 60 sets of sales slips to each book the book numbering mechanism will change progressively once for every 60 printing and punching operations. The mechanism for printing and punching the check number is adapted to change progressively between each printing and punching operation of the machine so that thethree slips of the first printing operation will be numbered, check 1, the next three (the second printing operation) will be numbered check 2, and so on. The department number may be changed by the operator of the machine'from time to time after the desired number of books for a given department have been prepared. This is also true of the clerk number.

In Fig. 4 'thepaper stock 3e for the cards 3 is supplied from a roll 3f mounted at I 2. The stock 2e from which the slips 2 are produced is supplied from a roll 21 mounted on a spindle I3. The roll 3! is mounted on the right side of the machine and the roll 2f on the left side. The stock Ie from which the slips I are produced is supplied from a roll If mounted on the right side'of the machine back of the roll 3!, (see Fig. 5). The slip of paper 2e runs directly from the reel 2! to the feed rollers I4, I5 (Figs. 4 and 6) while the strip Ie first passes around an idler I6 and then between the feed rollers I4, I5; and the strip 3e first passes around an idler I1 and then to the rollers I4, I5. From the-rollers I4, I5 the strips of stock pass upwardly to the bed plate. I8 (Fig. 6), across the said plate to the right side of the machine, between the feed rollers I 3, 26.

.The printing and perforating of thevarious slips is effected on this bed plate and is done in three stages; for instance, the printing of the .three slips may all be done in the first position 2|, the perforating of the card 3 may be done in the second position 22, and the scoring of the several slips may be eifectedat the third position 23.

The feeding mechanism, of course. is adapted I to move the stock a distance equal to the length of the slips between each printing and punching.

The three slips will then be carried and deposited in proper order in the tray 25 by mechanismstov be described later. v

Drive mechanism I The operation of the machine'is effected by an electric motor 26 (Fig. 4) connected by a belt 21 to a pulley 28 (see alsqFigs. 5 and 7). The pulley 28 is mounted on a shaft 29 carried by the frame 30 of the machine. Shaft 28 is provided with a pinion 3I (see Fig. 8) meshing with a gear 32 which in turn meshes with. agear 33 mounted on I5 but is drawn into the machine for printing and punching periodically, at the end of each printing and punching operation.

The operation of rollers I8, 26 for drawing the stock 'into the machine is as follows: The constantly running main drive shaft 29, through the gears 3I, 32 causes the shaft 43 on which gear 32 is mounted, .to rotate constantly. The end of the'shaft 43 (Figs. 6 and 11) is provided witha crank arm 44 connected by link 45 to the.rear end of a segmental gear 46 onv shaft 41. Segment 46 meshes' 'with a gear 48 loosely mounted on a shaft 49. The segment 46 turns back and forth once for each revolution'of the shaft 43 and .thus causes the gear 48 to turn first in one direction and then back in the opposite direction. A pawl 500 carried by the gear '48 (Figs. 5a ad 13a) and operating a ratchet 5"! fixed on the shaft 43,

. turns the latter shaft counterclockwise while the opposite direction. Shaft 48 has fixed thereon a bevelled gear 52 meshing with a similar gear 53 (Fig. 5) carried on the shaft on whichthe feed roller 23 is mounted. Intermeshing gears I3a, 26a are provided between rollers I9, 26. Thus the feed rollers I3, 26 are turnedwhen the segment 46 moves in one direction and remain idle when the segment moves in the opposite direction. The distance through which the feed rollers turn is equal to the length of the slips or cards I, 2 and 3 so that the material is fed the desired distance-once for each cycle of operation g of the machine.

In thus feeding the strips of material, the segment 46 has moved frgm its upper position, in v a clockwise direction, to the position of Fig. 11. While shaft 43 continues to turn, taking up the lost motion in the slot a in link 45, the frame I 58 which has moved down almost into engage-' ment with the strips, will continue to the point of engagement to effect printing and punching. During this latter part of the stroke stud 6| will operate the cutter 24 to cut off the finished cards.

Printing I In Fig. 7, the plate for printing on the. slip I is shown at 55; the plate for printing on the slip 2 is shown at 56 and the plate for printing on the card 3 is shown at 51. These plates are carried by a frame 58. pivoted at 59 tothe fixed framework 36 of the machine and adapted to be raised and lowered by connectinglinks 66 (see also Figs. 4pand 6). These ,links are connected to a rod 6| carried, by the frame 58 andto the crank portions 62 of the shaft 34.. Once each cycle of operation of the machlne, the frame 63 is raised to the position of'Flg. '1 and then re-, turned to cooperation with bed plate I8. When it is lowered the type plates engage the slips and effect the printing. All of the printing ofthe three slips is effected by this type when the slips (that is, the portions of the stock from which the particular slips are to be out) are in the positions lg, 29 and 3g as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 (see also Fig. 17), excepting the numbers underthe headings, Dept., Clerk, Book and Check. As these numbers are constantly changing, special printing devices are provided for the printing .of such numbers. The scoring of the slips along the lines 5, 6, 'l, 8 and 9 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 17) is efiected by scoring devices at 63 (Fig. 8) in the third position designated Ii, 22 3i. The scoring devices are also carried by the frame 58 and effect the scoring when the frame is brought down for printing.

It is to be understood that the feeding of the stock takes place while the frame 58 is in its upper position, i. e. while it is being raised and lowered. l

The printing of the numbers under the heading Dept., Clerk, Book and Check on the slips and 2 and the punching of the holes representing these 1 numbers in the card 3, is effected in the central stock is at 37!. between the punches and the lower die 69. When some of the punches are depressed,

they will penetrate thecard 'stbck-"and then' 'when they are released the springs 61, pushing upwardly on the plate 68, will lift the punches out of the card and the stock is then free to be fed. The

means for depressing the punches comprise movable lugs 18 projecting downwardly from the racks One such rack is provided for each vertical column or numeral order. As shown in Fig. 3, these columns are designated 25 to 40 inclusive. In Fig. 9, the cross section shows one complete column of ten punches. Any one of these punches may be operated to perforate the card in the particular column by setting the lug 10 over that particular punch. The racks H are slidably mounted between the slats l2 and cooperate with segmental gears 13 pivoted at 14 and provided with setting levers 15. By raising or lowering the lever 15 the rack may be moved forward or backward to bring the lug 10 into position above any one of the ten punches. The racks II as well as the segmental gears 13 are mounted in a housing 16 carried by the rocking frame 58 and are lifted and lowered with the frame. Thus, when the frame is lowered, the lugs 18 engage their respective punches and force them downwardly through the card. Then when the frame is raised the punches are released and permitted to be lifted by their springs out from the card.

The printing of the numbers on the slips and 2 is effected by type wheels I1, 18, 19 and 88 (Figs. 9 and 10) The printing of these numberson the -slip 2 is effected by the printing wheels 1.1. The

printing of the numbers on the lower right half of the slip is effected by the wheels 18. The printing of the numbers on the upper left half of slip is effected by the printing wheels 19 and the printing on the lower left 'half of the slip is effected by wheels 80. Each of the printing wheels is in the nature of a gear having the printing type engraved in the face of each gear tooth and each of these printing wheels meshes with a segmental gear 8|.

Each of the racks associated with a column of punches is connected to the four corresponding printing wheels. In other words, the rack Tl associated with the units order of the check number is connected to the four printing wheels for printing the units numeral in the check number on the slip 2; and in the three positions on the slip I. Similarly, the rack ll associated with the tens column of punches of this number are connected to the printing wheels belonging to the tens'order of the number in the four positions on slips and 2. To this end the-segment I3 is connected by a link 82 to the segment 8| associated with the printing wheel 18. The latter segment is in turn connected by a link 83 to the segment 8| of the wheel TI. The racks 8| associated with the printing wheels 18 are connected by links 84 to arms 85 fixed on rods or shafts 86. These shafts are connected at their other ends to similar arms 88 connected by links 89 to the gear sectors 8| associated with printing "wheels 19, at 98. The sectors 8| associated with wheels 19 are in turn connected through links 9| to the sectors 8| associated with the printing wheels 88. Thus the setting of the punch control racks to perforate particuar numerals also sets all of the printing wheels in the corresponding orders to print the same numerals. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the links 84 continue to the right and cooperate with stepped cams 92, 93 loose ,on shaft 94.

pan-1 92 maybe providedwith six steps, and

wheels of the units order of the check number.

Each of the stepped cams is fixed to a separate ratchet wheel 95. A' pair of pawls 96 fixed with respect to each other are adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheels 95, a spring 91 (Fig. 15) being provided to hold the pawls in cooperation with the ratchet wheels. The pawls are pivotally carried by an arm 98 which is fixed on the shaft 94 and is adapted to be rocked back and forth so that the pawls will rotate the ratchet wheels 95 clockwise one step at a time. The units order ratchet wheel 95 is provided with one deep notch 99. When the units pawl 96 is in any of the other notches of this ratchet wheel, the pawl associated with the'tens order ratchet 95 will be out of engagement with its wheel, but when the units pawl drops into the deep notch of its ratchet wheel, the

tens order pawl 98 will engage ,the teeth in the v tens order ratchet and actuate the latter one step. The pawls operate once for each cycle of operation of the machine. Thus the units order ratchet wheel 95 and the corresponding stepped cam 93 will be moved one step for each cycle. This in turn will move the connecting link 84 one step to the left and through the segments 8| and interconnections described, change the pothe connecting link associated with-the punches and type wheels of the tens order of the check the tens order. According to this arrangement, the device is adapted to number the checks from 7 1 to 59 at which time the punch setting and 5 printingwheel setting are again in position to begin numbering a new set of check slips beginning with 1. For operating the pawls 96, an arm- 98a fixed on shaft 94 (Fig. 8) is connected through through link 98b to an arm 98c.flxed on shaft 41 (Figs. 6 and 8). This shaft as has been seen in connection with Fig.-11 is rocked back and forth. Connecting links 84 (Figs. 9, 10) associated with the printing wheels and punches for printing and punching the book number may be associated with additional stepped cams 93a each of which is associated with a separate ratchet wheel 95a. A set of pawls 96a is associated with the ratchet wheels 95a and are set progressively farther away (higher) from their re-" spective ratchets 95a. Each of the ratchet wheels 95a is'provided with a deep notch similar to notch 99. The depth of the deep notch inthese wheels varies so that after the units order wheel has advanced ten steps the tens order pawl will drop into its ratchet wheel and actuate the latter one step. Similarly, after the tens order wheel has moved ten steps the hundreds order pawl will drop into its ratchet wheel and actuate the latter one step. This mechanism is well known and is therefore not shown in all its details here.

The progression in the setting of the punches and type wheels I for printing the department number and clerk number will depend upon the needs of the particular store for which the books are made up. After the desired number of book sets bearing a particular clerk's number or department number has been made up, those numbers may be changed by manual operation of the setting levers I5 as described.

When the setting of the punch lugs 10 and the printing wheels for the book number is effected by the setting of the lever I5, it will be necessary.

to efiect a similar setting of the stepped cams 93a. For this purpose, each of the ratchet wheels 95a 2 may cooperate with a pawl-I00 (Fig. 9),. These pawls may normally serve to lock the ratchets in the positions to which they have been turned These pawls may sponding ratchet wheel 95a one step. Then when w the slide is released pawl I00 will return to its normal position. By depressing the slides re- 60 peatedly the ratchets 95a and stepped cams may be advanced step by step to the position desired.

Locking type wheels The type wheels may be locked in position dur-' 65 ing printing, by means of locking bars 'or bails I35,

I36, I31, (Figs. 9 and 10). These bails are connected by links I30, I39, I40 to arms I fixed 0 shaft I42 and are rocked into locking position before each printing operation, and out of such po- 70 sition'after printing has been effected so that the wheels may be turned to advance the numbering.

Fixed on shaft I42 is an arm I 42a (Fig. 8) car rying a spring-controlled by-pass member I42b. A cam I420 pivoted at I42d is fixed with respect to arm I42e. The latter arm is connected by link jection 25c.

I421 to the arm 98 which rocks back and forth I as shown and described.

When cam I 420 rocks to the left it pushes member I42b to the left and rocksshaft I42 counterclockwise. This moves the bails into'engagement with the printing wheels. At the end of the stroke of cam I420 to the left, and after printing has been completed, member I42b drops off the point I42g as springs I42h' move the bailsout of contact with the printing wheels. When cam I420 rocks back to the right the by-pass member I42b rocks counterclockwise without moving arm I42a.

Cutting the slips During each cycle of operation of the machine, when the frame 58 descends to effect printing and punching, the cutting blade 24 (Figs. 11 and 12) is also depressed. This blade cooperates with ,the ledge I05 (Fig. 12) and cuts off the finished I I0 carried by the shaft I06 reaches under the projecting rod 6| so that during each cycle when the frame 58 is lowered the rod 6I will depress the I 1 arm H0 and rotate the shaft I06 to operate the blade 24. The arm IIO may be resiliently .connected to the shaft I06 by means of a spring III.

Feeding t e finished slips After the slips have been cut off in the positions Ii, 21' and 37' they are arranged one on top of the other, the card 3 being at the bottom, the duplicate slip 2 on top of the card 3 and the original slip I at the top. Directly under the slips in this position are two endless feed belts I I2 havingupwardly projecting fingers 3 (Figs. 5 and 11). These belts are mounted on wheels H4, H5. The wheels I I5 are fixed on shaft I I6 to which is al fixed a gear I I1 meshing with gear 5I When the gear sector 46 swings upwardly after II5 to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Fig.

11. This will cause the fingers II3 on the belts 2 to engage the rear edge of the slip I, moving the latter to the left in Fig. 11, upover the guide member I I8 so that the slip 1 is thus pushed over the top of the slip 2. The fingers I I3 now engage the edge of the slip 2 as well as the slip I and move both of these over similar guide member H0 and drop both of these slips over the top of the card 3. At this time, the fingers H3 engage the edge of the card 3 and moved all three of the slips toward the left where they will be deposited by a device 25a in proper order in the tray 25. 25a is pivoted at 25b and is provided with a pro- A. stud 26d fixed to wheel II4 is adapted to depress arm-25e. This will rock arms 25!; and 250 to raise the device 25d and deposit the cards or slips in the tray 25.

Operationof the inking roller The type 55, 56, 51 (Fig. 7) and the type wheels TI, 10, I9 and 80 (Fig. 9) which are in the same plane in the lower portion of the frame 50, are adapted to be supplied with ink'by an inking roiler I20 carried'by arms I2I. These arms are piv- 'otally mounted at I22 to arms I23 which arein turn pivoted at I24. Springs I25 tend to rock the The devicearms I23 counterclockwise under control of a cam I26 mounted on a shaft I2'I (Fig. 8). The shaft is provided with a gear I28 meshing with an idler I29 which meshes with gear 32 on shaft 43. An

arm I30 fixed with respect to arms I2I is provided with a cam follower I3I adapted to cooperate with a plate I32.

Spring I33 tends to rock the arms I2I upwardly to lift. the inking roller I20. Normally the follower I3I cooperating with the plate I32 holds the inking roller in its lower position, in cooperation with another roller I34. As the arms I23 rock toward the left under control of cam I26, the cam follower I3I will be permitted to move downwardly and the springs I33 will lift the inking roller I upwardly against the type and type wheels. This, of course, takes place when the frame 58 is raised or While it is being moved to its upper position. Arms I 23 20 by moving to the left and back to the right,

cause the inking roller to travel over the face of all of the type and then back again to the normal position of Fig. 8 so as to be out of the way before the frame 58 again reaches printing (lowered) position.

The ink for the rollers I20, I34 is supplied by a reservoir or trough I40 (Figs. 7 and 16). Rollers MI in the reservoir pass the ink on to a roller I42, and over a succession of rollers I43 to the roller I34. One of the rollers MI and roller I 42 are carried onspindles I44 which are attached at one end to an arm I45 (Figs. 6 and 16) fixed on shaft I46 having an arm I41 connected by link I48 to bell crank arm I49. 'This arm is a cam' follower cooperating with cam I50 connected by gear I 5| to gear 32. This moves the ink rollers I4I, I42 endwise, one a little more than the other, to spread the ink evenly over their surfaces. When the ink has passed over the intermediate rollers to the inking roller I20 it will be properly thinned and distributed. A belt I52 (Fig. 7) may be used to cause the inking rollers to turn, and the ink may be fed to the rollers and the trough I 40 through a tube While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will beunderstood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be lim- 55 ited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a. machine of the class described. means for simultaneously printing a plurality of cards, means'for punching predetermined ones of said cards, means for automatically varying the setting of parts of said punching means for serial numbering, and means for assembling the cards in predetermined order.

2. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of punches for punching records, a carrier, type wheels and a punch actuator mounted on said carrier, means for lowering the carrier to effect printing and operation of the punches, and means for automatically setting the printing wheels and punch actuator.

3. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of punches for punching records, a carrier,

type wheels and punch actuators mounted on.

said carrier, means for lowering the carrier to cause the wheels to print upon the records and to effect operation of thepunches, and means for effecting simultaneous setting of the printing wheels and punch actuators for serial number printing and punching.

4. In a machine of the class described, a printing table, a plurality of punches fixed to said table for punching records thereon, a type carrier, means for lowering the carrier to effect printing on the record. and means in said carrier for selectively actuating said punches when the carrier is lowered for printing.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for simultaneously feeding a plurality of strips, means for effecting form printing upon said strips, means for printing serial numbers in certain fields of the forms on the strips, means for effecting serial number punching in other fields of the forms, means for cutting the strip into separate sheets, and means for automatically collecting and arranging the sheets in predetermined order.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a plurality of strips, means for effecting form printing upon the strips, means for cutting the strips into separate sheets, means for .scoring the separate sheets differently, and

means for automatically collecting and arranging the sheets in predetermined order.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for producing records for controlling accounting machines and duplicate sheets of such records,

said means including punches for perforating the control record, printing mechanisms for printing upon the duplicate sheet, and means for automatically arranging said records and duplicate sheets-on top of each other, interspersing the duplicate sheets between the perforated control records.

v FRED M.'CARROLL. 

